Abstract

The MESSENGER Science Operations Center (SOC) is an integrated set of
subsystems and personnel whose purpose is to obtain, provide, and
preserve the scientific measurements and analysis that fulfill the
objectives of the MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and
Ranging (MESSENGER) mission. The SOC has two main functional areas. The
first is to facilitate science instrument planning and operational
activities, including related spacecraft guidance and control
operations, and to work closely with the Mission Operations Center to
implement those plans. The second functional area, data management and
analysis, involves the receipt of science-related telemetry,
reformatting and cataloging this telemetry and related ancillary
information, retaining the science data for use by the MESSENGER Science
Team, and preparing data archives for delivery to the Planetary Data
System; and the provision of operational assistance to the instrument
and science teams in executing their algorithms and generating
higher-level data products.